Comments on: Language Genetics: Knots and Finches

By: The FOXP2 Gene and Speech

The FOXP2 Gene and Speech — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:37:29 +0000

[...] FoxP2 gene is the so-called “language gene,” as it plays a role in the neural development that is [...]

By: Eye on DNA Headlines for 5 October 2007

Eye on DNA Headlines for 5 October 2007 — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:16:51 +0000

[...] Dr. Kristina Chew at Autism Vox has been on a roll about genetics lately including these posts: What do you know about genetics? and Language Genetics: Knots and Finches. [...]

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:17:39 +0000

In general understanding intricate spoken language might be limited to humans, but not in the field.

Bonobos (or was it chimps) are reported to have been taught English, but they were Heavily accented.

The famous Parrot that died recently was claimed to express frustration with repetitive trials.

Sorry I do not have immediate references.

When the Crows migrate (even from the back to the front of the place I work) and signal their positions to others, just because we can’t hear the intricacies of the trill and undertsand what they mean by it, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t talking to each other.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:51:33 +0000

I am always frustrated when I can’t find words for, and have come to the conclusion that there are things that I can’t say or write. Obviously, I will not be writing them here.

As time progresses, that gets easier, along with the fact you just kind of learn how to deal with not having a word for something without being really frustrated about it. As the sticky points become more localized, you kind of learn to expect it and eventually just shrug your shoulders.

And I find too, as an autistic, language falls very flat. I don’t think this is unique to autistics, otherwise I wouldn’t have to bear those really awkward “It’s like when…” moments. And if you say “I’m angry”, people give you a funny look and don’t take you seriously, and you have to venture out into sour-lettered words, and that’s taboo. So I don’t find language to generally be the most helpful in emotional terms.

Cliff

By: athina

athina — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:25:16 +0000

Communication isn’t nesecarilly confined in the use of language and, vice versa, the use of language doesn’t nesecarilly establish communication. My son started talking before he was one year old and since then his language has improved a lot. BUT, we don’t realy “communicate” through words. Sure, he uses words to address his needs, water, toilet, hug etc but not his feelings. His language has grammar, so I guess he pays attention and understands what we say, and he also has a rich vocabulary, so I guess he is actually interested in learning. When it comes to feelings though, other means of communiaction are employed in order for him to express them. He smiles or he frowns, he opens his eyes wide, he makes scared faces, he laughs, he hugs, he kisses and sometimes, I can tell how he feels just by looking at his eyes. Although very important, the use of language isn’t the cornerstone of communication for me. I believe that he “thinks” more than he “talks” and it’s really heartbreaking to see him overwhelmed by frustration when he cannot find the right words. It fells like he is asking for a kind of help that I cannot give him.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:24:54 +0000

Regan, that’s interesting. In my case, it hasn’t really been true; I could completely discard language and remember my entire life without an issue.

But there’s a point I need cleared up; he could write, but then couldn’t organize events until sign language unless in their presence? Didn’t he have communicative symbology in writing?

Cliff

By: KimJ

KimJ — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:08:45 +0000

Dr. Temple Grandin discusses the research done with birds, songbirds and other animals that “have language” in her book Animals in Translation. It’s very good.

By: Regan

Regan — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:04:59 +0000

I hope this isn’t too off base to the discussion, but a couple of years back I was reading one of Oliver Sacks’ books on the deaf community and he reprinted part of a very old narrative from someone who was profoundly deaf at the time that the first sign language was developed and was one of the first students. From this first- hand writing it was clear that the author was a very intelligent person but he described great difficulties remembering or considering events in his life above a functional level without a communicative symbology and structure so that he could “think” about things when not in their visual presence. Learning sign language apparently gave him the handle he needed. Perhaps that was only one anecdotal case or not relevant to this thread. It was just very interesting and has stuck in my head considering what that might have been like.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:19:36 +0000

The notion that language is necessary for thought seemed very confusing to me the first time I heard it. I couldn’t figure out how it is that you think with language.

By: Singing Blog Feeds » Blog Archive » Language Genetics: Knots and Finches

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:50:11 +0000

[...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]